Cajun Ragin' in St. Petersburg

Hot Tuna / Little Feat - Jannus Landing

On May 3, Hot Tuna and Little Feat brought their classic rock, blues, and New
Orleans-styled rhythms to the outside courtyard of Jannus Landing. Opening the
show was the electric version of Hot Tuna with Jorma Kaukonen — otherwise known
as "The Captain" — on electric guitar and Jack Casady on bass as well as their
current accompanists Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin, electric guitar, and electric
mandolin — think bonsai guitar — and Erik Diaz on drums. Beginning with a cover
of Martin Bowles’ Oh Lord, Search My Heart, the band ripped through an
hour-and-a-half of blues and late ’70s rock ’n‘ roll.

Delivering familiar staples from its repertoire, such as I See the Light, Rock Me Baby, and Living Just for You, Hot Tuna had the audience
energized and dancing before bringing them back to Earth with the instrumental
Sea Child. The group then tackled a pair of old standards: Billy Boy
Arnold’s I Wish You Would and Chuck Berry’s Talkin’ ’Bout You. In
a touching moment, Kaukonen dedicated Rev. Gary Davis’ spiritual I Am the
Light of this World to his friend’s father who had died the day before at
almost 90 years of age. Corners without Exits was delivered in a very
casual, jazz-like manner, and when the band was introduced, Kaukonen made note
of the fact that he has been performing with John William Casady III for half of
a century. Hot Tuna’s portion of the show concluded with heavily rockin’
renditions of Lightning Hopkins’Come Back Baby and its own Funky #7.

After a brief set change, Little Feat hit the stage running with Cajun
Rage, which featured some smokin’ slide guitar playing from lead man Paul
Barrere. Shaun Murphy’s vocals were highlighted during Romance Without
Finance, and several tunes later, Little Feat dug in its heels and carried
everyone to "the bright lights of Memphis." After launching into its classic cut
Dixie Chicken, Fred Tackett had a chance to shine on trumpet.

When Barrere announced that the next song would be a sing-along because
everyone knew the chorus, it was clear that Little Feat was about to perform Willin’. The whole crowd joined the band in delivering the tune, and the
communal atmosphere continued during the subsequent tune Don’t Bogart that
Joint. Percussionist Sam Clayton was given an opportunity to stand in the
spotlight as Little Feat united Spanish Moon and Skin It Back.

Ninety minutes after taking the stage, Little Feat left the enthusiastic
crowd bellowing for more. Everyone was delighted when the outfit returned to the
stage to finish the show with one of its standards: Feats Don’t Fail Me Now.
Without a doubt, the entire audience had enjoyed dancing to music under the
stars on a spring night in Florida.